Infineon, Global Locate develop A-GPS chip for cell phones

Infineon Technologies AG and Global Locate are jointly developing Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS) chip for mobile telephones, smart phones and PDAs. The new Hammerhead chip is optimized for cellular handsets and is expected to bring GPS functionality to mobile phones. The companies will jointly market the Hammerhead chip.

The Hammerhead chip will enable location-based services such as emergency assistance and personal navigation in deep urban canyons, moving vehicles and even indoors. Global Locate is contributing its knowledge in baseband design, GPS signal processing and control software as well as system level know-how; while Infineon is providing its expertise in RF design, system integration, process technology and manufacturing.

Moreover, the Hammerhead A-GPS chip will be able to detect a GPS signal that is 1,000 times weaker than the normal "open sky" signal outdoors. All aspects of the design have been optimized for mobile handsets. The chip consumes very little power, has extremely robust performance and at 7mm by 7mm (about a third of an inch by a third of an inch) is no larger than a key on the dialing pad of a mobile phone.